This is the first of a three-part blog series called ‘Going Beyond GDP for Bhutan’. The content is based on a collaboration between Bhutan’s Department of Forest and Park Services (DoFPS) and ICIMOD to develop guidelines for Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) for Protected Areas (PAs), using Bhutan’s Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) as a case study. The work is supported by ICIMOD’s Himalayan Resilience Enabling Programme (HI-REAP) funded by United Kingdom International Development.
As World Wetlands Day approached – held every year on 2 February – we found ourselves reflecting on wetlands we had visited, studied, and cherished. As landscape researchers and practitioners, we have to hand some figures about wetlands in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, but numbers do not tell the complete story.
Wetlands are also spaces of myth and magic. They feature in creation stories and legends, and are revered for their role in sustaining lives and livelihoods. From sacred lakes to floating islands, from a wish-fulfilling lake to life-giving floodplains, wetlands are invaluable intangible cultural heritage. We feel that highlighting the ecological and cultural values of wetlands is truly needed in these rapidly changing times.
Sacred, wish-fulfilling waters
In the western Himalaya, the Kailash sacred landscape spans parts of China, India, and Nepal. Towering over this transboundary landscape is Mount Kailash, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva, revered as the ‘God of Gods’ in Hinduism. At its feet lies Mansarovar, a high-altitude lake believed to cleanse sins and ensure a place in heaven for those who bathe in its waters. Guarding Mount Kailash are the twin lakes of Rakshastal and Yakshastal – mystical lakes with deep mythological roots.
In the eastern Himalaya, the Khecheopalri Lake in Sikkim is revered as a wish-fulfilling lake. Radiocarbon dating suggests the lake is over 3,500 years old, and the locals believe it to be holy. Legend has it that not a single leaf is allowed to rest on its surface – whenever a leaf falls, birds swiftly pick it up. The local communities strictly refrain from exploiting the lake’s resources, believing that it could bring misfortune, or anger the guardian goddess. Religious festivals and community rituals strengthen the spiritual connection to the lake, ensuring its protection through social sanction.
Nepal has several hot springs. The most popular ones are ‘Tatopani’ along the Kodari highway, near the Nepal-China border, others in Jomsom, Mustang District and Ghorepani, Myagdi District in western Nepal. Local communities cherish these wetlands, not just for their healing properties and warmth, but also for their deep cultural and spiritual significance. Many believe that soaking in hot springs cleanses both body and mind.
The life-giving floodplains
In the eastern Himalaya, as the mighty Brahmaputra meanders and braids, it nourishes a vast network of floodplain wetlands – beels, jheels, and pats (wetlands in Assamese, Hindi, and Meitei, respectively) – that are lifelines for fishing-dependent communities. Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site near Guwahati, northeastern India hosts tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl each year. Loktak Lake in Manipur, northeastern India, another Ramsar site, is famous for its floating islands, which are masses of vegetation. The Meitei (ethnic group native to Manipur) fishermen live on these floating islands, and their livelihoods are intricately linked to the wetland. The lake hosts over 30 migratory bird species, including the ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) and the critically endangered Baer's pochard (Aythya baeri). It is also the last stronghold of the Manipur brow-antlered deer (Rucervus eldii) – considered the world’s most endangered cervid, (of the deer family).
The carbon treasure of peatlands
To the north of the Himalayas, the Ruoergai (Zoige) peatlands in the Tibetan plateau, whose soils consist of organic matter from decaying plants, hold a staggering 750 megatonnes of carbon – 7.5 times the annual emissions from China’s transport sector. Despite appearing vast and untouched, these peatlands are increasingly degrading. Their immense carbon storage capacity makes them critical for climate mitigation, yet their degradation could release massive amounts of stored carbon, accelerating global heating.
Myths, rituals, and wetland conservation
Beyond their ecological importance, wetlands have long been central to religious ceremonies and traditions. In India, as of 31 January, over 296.4 million pilgrims have already visited the ongoing Kumbh Mela at the sacred Triveni Sangam, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers meet. It is the largest human gathering in the world. The faithful believe that taking a dip at this confluence purifies the soul and washes away sins, much like wetlands filter impurities and maintain ecological balance.
Similarly, the Gangtey-Phobjikha Valley in central Bhutan is a Ramsar site renowned for its deep spiritual connection to the endangered, black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Every year, the Gangtey Monastery hosts the Black-Necked Crane Festival, where locals celebrate these majestic birds through dance, music, and folklore. The cranes are revered as spiritual messengers, and their arrival is considered auspicious. Such cultural ties play a crucial role in wetland conservation, as local communities take pride in safeguarding these sacred ecosystems.
Protecting the myths and magic of wetlands
The intricate link between nature and spirituality underscores the urgency of wetland conservation. Wetlands are not just ecological entities; they are living cultural landscapes, sustaining both biodiversity and heritage. Conservation efforts must integrate local beliefs and traditions, ensuring that wetlands remain protected not just through policies, but through the reverence of those who have lived alongside them for centuries.
At the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), our work focuses on supporting the management of Ramsar sites across the HKH region. We provided technical guidance for the Gangtey-Phobji Ramsar site’s management plan in Bhutan, which was approved by the government and launched in November 2024 during the Black-Necked Crane Festival. Implementation has begun, reinforcing the community’s role in wetland protection.
We are also mapping high-altitude peatlands to assess their carbon stocks and understand their responses to global climate change. Such initiatives align with international goals, including the Ramsar Convention, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Paris Agreement.
A call to action
Wetlands are more than just ecosystems; they are sacred and life-sustaining landscapes. Their degradation results in both ecological loss and cultural erosion. Protecting them requires a holistic approach – one that values their scientific importance while embracing the myths and magic that have kept them revered over generations.
As we celebrate World Wetlands Day, let us remember that protecting wetlands is not just about conserving nature, but preserving age-old traditions and beliefs that tie us to nature. It is only by honouring the science together with the myths and magic of wetlands that we can truly revere, understand and safeguard them.
Facts and figures
| Wetlands cover anywhere between 70,000–80,000 km² to 340,000 km², approximately 10% of the total HKH area. Wetlands store an estimated 20–30% of the global carbon pool, making them indispensable for climate regulation. Of the 440 Ramsar sites – wetlands of international importance – in Asia, 208 are in the HKH countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Among them, 44 Ramsar sites lie within the HKH, including 21 high-altitude wetlands located above 3,000 metres. Bhutan and Nepal alone have over 5,000 high-altitude lakes, serving as vital habitats for migratory birds, including the globally threatened wood snipe (Gallinago nemoricola). More than 150 plant species have been recorded in the Phoksundo lake in northwestern Nepal. |